What’s the difference between a conveyancer and solicitor?

Conveyancers and solicitors both handle the legal process of transferring property ownership from one party to another.

Although there are differences between the two, when it comes to buying or selling a property, conveyancers and solicitors essentially do the same job.

Both have undergone the necessary training and have the relevant experience to guide you through the entire property transaction process.

But which one is right for you? Let’s find out.

Before getting into the differences between conveyancers and solicitors, let's first look at the definition of a conveyancer and a solicitor:

A conveyancer is a legal professional who will guide you through the process of buying or selling a property. Their primary role is to handle the legal side of the property transaction and make it clear and simple for you to understand.

Conveyancers are trained specifically in the field of conveyancing and are licensed by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). While the CLC’s regulations differ slightly from those of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which governs solicitors, both bodies ensure their members adhere to strict professional standards.

Whilst Eden is regulated by the CLC, our conveyancers come from either the CLC or SRA.

While conveyancers receive specific training focusing solely on property law, a solicitor has full legal training, earning them a license to practice law across various domains. Some may choose to specialise in specific areas like property law and may refer to themselves as “conveyancing solicitors”.

Solicitors are regulated by the SRA, which sets the rules and guidelines they must follow when interacting with clients. They ensure a consistent level of professionalism and ethical conduct.

Despite differences between conveyancers and solicitors in terms of their educational backgrounds and regulatory bodies, when it comes to what you need them for (conveyancing), you’ll struggle to find much that sets them apart.

Capabilities

Regardless of whether you choose to work with a conveyancer or a solicitor, you can rest easy that both are fully trained, licensed, and qualified to handle the transfer of ownership of your sale, purchase, or both.

The only major difference is that solicitors will have training or other areas of the law. But this won’t be relevant to you as a property law client.

Cost

Cost is important for everyone. There isn’t a significant difference between hiring a conveyancer or solicitor for property transactions. Their fees tend to be comparable, typically ranging from £1,000 and £2,000 for legal work related to conveyancing.

Factors related to your situation are far more likely to influence the price, such as location, property value, whether it is freehold or leasehold etc. These variables will have a greater impact on overall cost than the choice between a conveyancer or solicitor.